Video to DVD

Fluffybums

I have a few old fashioned video (VCR) that I'd like to put on DVD using my MacBook, if I can have a fiddle with iMovie that would be great if I can just send straight to DVD then so be it.
Does anyone know how I can connect the VCR to the MacBook (I have USB and Firewire ports, 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) and will iMovie '06 cope?

I have a Dazzle 90 I bought for the desktop but that needs a rebuild and the microsoft stuff is painful to use so I'd prefer to use the Mac as it will be quicker (doesn't need a rebuild) and easier.

Any ideas will be greatfully received or if you tell me I can't do this then that will save much hassle.:D

J-blk

You can connect the VCR to your Mac but you're going to need a TV tuner with a composite video input - Elgato offers a great variety including a device that just has video inputs and not much more:

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/Accessories/Video-Capture/product1.en.html

However, at €99.95, it's a complete ripoff and not worth it at all - it's almost as expensive as the EyeTV Hybrid, which is a pretty great TV tuner (analog and DTT) and will give you the inputs you need. You can get the Hauppauge HVR 900 instead, which is the Windows version of the same tuner, but it does work on the Mac side, brilliantly with the Eye TV software (and I think there's a free trial version of Eye TV 3 available too):

http://www.dabs.ie/products/hauppauge-wintv-hvr900-digital-and-analogue-tv-stick-mac-and-pc-4ZNH.html?q=Hauppauge%20HVR

http://www.dabs.ie/products/hauppauge-wintv-hvr-900-3WJF.html?q=Hauppauge%20HVR

larz

Hi I tried to do the same thing myself and it ended up getting very messy.

I went with these guys instead, its much better than spending €100.
It was quick and cheap too!

http://www.digisafe.ie/

Hope this helps! :-)

SouperComputer

You are only going to want to do this once, you might as well do it right. Get a piece of proper capture hardware such as a canopus Canopus ADVC100 (or later model) from eBay. While you are at it, you could go all out and get a pro VHS deck.

Capture the video, store it on HD's, DVDs, DV tapes or all three and sell the hardware when you are done. With this hardware theres nothing messy really, fire up iMovie, FCE, FCP whatever, capture just like you would from a DV cam, press play on your VCR, edit and you are done.

uncle_sam_ie

I use my Sony DV Digital Handycam to do this. Just hook up the VCR to the Handycam and the firewire to your iMac(using iMove software). You don't need a DV tape, the Handycam will convert it to digital for you. This works great for getting recored stuff of the Sk-box too.

Fluffybums

Thanks for all your suggestions.

UncleSam I have a Handycam, I take it you connect the AV OUT or SVideo out to the VCR and then DV to the Mac and simply play the tape?

Off to look for the cables. Thanks again for all the suggestions, if the Handycam doesn't work I may be back asking more questions about the other suggestions - I'm not the most tech savy person.